About

 
 

Community Leaders Fellowship

The Community Leaders Fellowship is an intensive professional development opportunity for nonprofit and community leaders focusing on a specific capacity challenge in their organization.

program description

  • Program participants apply for the fellowship with one specific capacity issue they would like to address through the fellowship.

  • Participants will be assisted in developing a one year capacity action plan with measurable benchmarks and deliverables that they will make progress toward during the 12 month program period.

  • Participants will attend 8 meetings over 12 months as well as making progress on their action plan in between meetings. Meetings will consist of a combination of learning opportunities on relevant topics to their capacity journey, peer support sessions to brainstorm solutions to challenges, one-on-one assistance developing an action plan to address their capacity issue, connection with experts to provide high-level insight into their capacity issue.

participant commitment

  • Attend 8 meetings over the 12 month program period between January - December.

  • Commit to making progress on capacity action plan in between meetings during the program period.

  • Report on benchmark and impact results at the 6 month and 1 year mark.

Application Process

Applications Closed

  • Applications will open October 1 - November 15, 2026 for the 2027 Program Period

  • Eligible candidates are those serving in a leadership and decision making role at an organization or community agency for which at least 51% of its programming is focused on serving under resourced communities in Chaffee County.

  • Applicants should apply with a specific, measurable capacity issue for which their organization is committed to taking steps to address over the next year. Capacity issues might include, but are not limited to the following:

    • Revenue Diversification

    • Adoption of new technology that will transform the organization’s capacity

    • DEI Initiatives to increase diversity of communities served and represented

    • Introduction of a new program model

Fellows

2026 Fellows:

  • Andi Bruno with Place to Age

    Andi Bruno is part of the Places to Age team working to bring a 66-unit Assisted Living & Memory Care facility to Chaffee County. Through the Fellowship, Andi is focused on building community support and fundraising momentum to help launch a project that will serve local seniors and families for decades to come.

  • Ben Correll with BV Single Track Coalition

    Ben Correll is the Board Chair of the Buena Vista Singletrack Coalition (BVSC). Through the Fellowship, Ben is supporting strategic planning and working to build diverse, resilient funding to help BVSC better serve community needs and strengthen partnerships with land management agencies.

  • Emily Petty with Shining Mountains Montessori

    Emily Petty is the Executive Director of Shining Mountains Montessori School in Buena Vista. As a Fellow, Emily is leading a major expansion to create 48 new early childhood spaces, including infant and toddler care, while refining staffing, financial models, and phased implementation plans to support sustainable growth.

  • Greg Baxter with Southern Co Hut Initiative 

    Greg Baxter is the Executive Director of the Southern Colorado Hut Initiative. Through the Fellowship, Greg is working to grow a regional hut network that supports immersive backcountry experiences while building partnerships focused on snow science, fire preparedness, and outdoor education.

  • Jimmy Sellars with Partnership for Community Action

    Jimmy Sellars is a multidisciplinary artist and systemic strategist, serving as founder and Vision Keeper of the Partnership for Community Action and lead coordinator for the Colorado 2SLGBTQIA+ Rural Coalition. Through the Fellowship, Jimmy is scaling the OUTPost model and YAS! Club to strengthen intergenerational leadership and sustainable support systems for rural queer youth.

  • Kyria Stange with Sventastik Productions

    Kyria Stange is the owner and founder of Sventastik Productions and a lifelong Chaffee County resident. Through the Fellowship, Kyria is building her leadership capacity while expanding opportunities in local performing arts through youth and community-based theater programming.

  • Laura Hart with Salida Circus

    Laura Hart is the Executive Director of Salida Circus, bringing a background in early childhood education, competitive cheerleading, and professional circus arts. As a Fellow, Laura is focused on growing sustainable funding to deepen community connection through circus arts, outreach, and programming.

  • Lisa Wagner with Buena Vista Heritage

    Lisa Wagner is the Executive Director of Buena Vista Heritage and has spent the past decade in historic preservation and community-based nonprofit leadership. Through the Fellowship, Lisa is leading a phased electrical upgrade of the 1882 Chaffee County Courthouse to improve safety while keeping the building in active public use.

  • Monica White with Colorado Tick-Borne Disease Awareness Association

    Monica White is a former U.S. Forest Service wildlife biologist and wildland firefighter, and the co-founder of the Colorado Tick-Borne Disease Awareness Association. Through the Fellowship, Monica is expanding public education, prevention, advocacy, and patient support while building stronger partnerships to improve resources across Colorado.

  • Natalie Moore with BV Pride Coalition 

    Natalie Moore is the Executive Director of Pride of Lions, a youth program within the BV Pride Coalition. Through the Fellowship, Natalie is growing inclusive social events and support opportunities for LGBTQIA+ youth and allies, with a focus on connection, mentorship, and youth well-being.

  • Nathan Ward with Shavano Academic Booster Club 

    Nathan Ward is a co-founder of the Shavano Academic Booster Club, established in 1990 to support Salida students through scholarships and academic recognition. Through the Fellowship, Nathan is working to strengthen the organization’s operations, expand scholarship funding, and relaunch grants for students in grades 3–12 pursuing academic opportunities outside the classroom.

2025 Fellows:

  • Cassie Stauch, Synergy in the Service Industry

  • Laura Hart, Salida Circus Outreach Foundation 

  • Andrea Marie Bruno, Places to Age

  • Mo Zeimet, Chaffee County Hospitality Inc.

  • Monica White, Colorado Tick-Borne Disease Awareness Association

  • Carmel Russo, Ark Valley Preschool 

  • Emily Osborn, Blue Elements Collective

  • Liz Morgan, Buena Vista Chamber of Commerce

  • Felix Heeter, Junior Edison STEAMplant 

  • Jason Marsden, GARNA

2024 Fellows:

  • PJ Bergin, Board Chair, SOIL Sangre de Cristo

  • Jarad Buchan, Community Services Manager, Full Circle Restorative Justice

  • Katie Tilt, Executive Director, Shining Mountains Montessori School

  • Mo Ziemet, Board Member, Chaffee County Hospitality, Inc.

  • Salty Riggs, Executive Director, BETCH

  • Liz Morgan, Executive Director, Buena Vista Chamber of Commerce

  • Bobby Sanghvi, Executive Director, Matt Dangel’s House

2023 Fellows:

  • Andrea Early Coen, Executive Director, Guidestone Colorado

  • Mike Bischoff, Executive Director, Mountain Valley Transit

  • Salty Riggs, Executive Director, BETCH

  • Sarah Dae, Executive Director, Tabor Opera House

  • Megan Strauss, Executive Director, Alpine Achievers